We’re headed into Week 11 and with the trade deadline getting closer, it’s time to ensure the running back position in your fantasy football lineups is deep enough to handle injuries and other factors down the home stretch.
Let’s take a look at the top running backs to target on the waiver wire in Week 11 that you should consider adding to your team. All players listed below are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and/or Sleeper leagues.
Note that I have done away with FAAB recommendations this year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced it with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should be in pursuing the player on a scale of 1-10.
Looking for other positions? Check out our Week 11 Waiver Wire article, which covers a plethora of players from all positions.
Jaylen Warren, RB | PIT
Slightly over the rostership threshold, Jaylen Warren is good enough to warrant discussion. The Steelers have gone back to their timeshare between Najee Harris and Warren, with the latter getting healthy.
In Week 10, Warren carried the ball 14 times for 66 yards while adding two receptions for 29 yards. That’s 16 opportunities!
On Thursday night, we saw Chase Brown rack up nine receptions as the Bengals went extremely pass heavy against the Ravens’ pass-funnel defense. We could be looking at a heavy Warren game, and it’s not just one we’re adding him for.
Warren is a legitimate weekly RB3 with RB1 upside if Harris were to go down.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Tyler Allgeier, RB | ATL
It can be difficult to roster a backup running back without much standalone value. Tyler Allgeier still managed to earn 11 carries in negative game script against the Saints, but this is a continuing trend where he’s just too far behind Bijan Robinson.
Allgeier hasn’t caught a pass in three weeks. Even when he scored in Week 9, he didn’t get to eight fantasy points.
With that said, Allgeier is the clear handcuff in one of the best situations in the NFL. If Robinson were to miss time, Allgeier would be an every-week high RB2, at worst.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.5
Audric Estimé, RB | DEN
When a running back scores 5.3 fantasy points, we typically don’t flock to pick him up. There’s no guarantee Audric Estimé ever emerges into anything useful for fantasy. With that said, head coach Sean Payton has been talking him up for a couple of weeks now, saying he would get more looks. And that plan finally went into motion last week.
Estimé led the Broncos’ backfield with a season-high 14 carries. He only managed 53 scoreless yards, which might keep fantasy managers sleeping on him.
Estimé will largely be touchdown-dependent, as he doesn’t have a single target all season. But he does appear to be the Broncos’ primary runner and likely goal-line back. Perhaps there won’t be anything here, but Estimé is worth a pickup if you have the room.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Tyjae Spears, RB | TEN
Returning from a three-game absence due to a hamstring strain, Tyjae Spears saw a respectable 10 touches against the Chargers. To be fair, most of them came with the game no longer in doubt in the fourth quarter. Even so, Spears looked good, carrying the ball seven times for 47 yards and adding three receptions for four yards.
Tyjae Spears returned to the Titans this week, and Tony Pollard only played four more snaps, ran two more routes, and had two more carries than him. Pollard's 56% running back rush share was his lowest of the season.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) November 11, 2024
Most importantly, Tony Pollard missed part of this game with a leg injury. If he were to miss time, Spears would be a weekly RB2/3. But even with Pollard healthy, Spears has some desperation Flex value and is worth a look as a bench stash.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Trey Benson, RB | ARI
Impressively, Trey Benson has hit double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back games. Of course, it was largely flukey.
First, Benson stole a short touchdown to get there. Second, he benefited from the Cardinals blowing out the New York Jets and there being a lot of time to rest James Conner.
Regardless, Benson looks like a much-improved player, one capable of handling lead-back duties, if necessary. He appears to be the clear handcuff to Conner, which is at least worth a bench stash.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Cam Akers, RB | MIN
Aaron Jones briefly left the Minnesota Vikings’ win over the Jaguars, and we got a glimpse of what this backfield would look like without him. It would be Cam Akers as the lead back with Ty Chandler behind him.
Akers carried the ball 13 times for 38 yards. It wasn’t impressive, but the volume is what we care about. He’d at least be a rosterable RB3, which is worth handcuff value.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0